Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1887-03-10
THE COST TOO GREAT.
THE CITY REFUSES TO PAVE
CONGRESS STREET.

CONGRESS STREET.
Che Council Objects to the Conditions
In the Property Owners PetitioD-Tbe
Conditions Done Away With and the
Matter to be Considered Again - The
Gwinnett Street Improvement - The
Reynolds Square Petition Refused -
Reward offered for Fogarty's Capture.
The City Council after a brief session
of reform has gone back to It's old ways.
Public sentiment against secret sessions
was so stroag that for while the Coun-
ell discussed whatever measures came
before it publicly. At the last meeting
nearly all important matters were re-
TERED TO committee OF the
whole. The committee had sew
sral meetings, and last night
went over the ground again in caucus. 1t
was 9:30 O'Clock before the caucus ad-
Iourned and the Council convened in
regular session. The hour of converting
was so late that it became necessary, at
Ter two hours session, TO take recess.
THE CONGRESS STREET PAVEMENT.
One of the most important measures
discussed was the street paving question.
At the last meeting petition was presen-
led by the owners OF majority or the
property on Congress street, between Bull
Ind Jefferson streets, asking that the
street be paved between these limits,
With the understanding that the city pay
The whole cost of grading, paving and
otherwise improving the street at all
points of Intersection with other streets,
and that in estimating the frontage OF
real estate on the street so much OF the
squares and the streets running around
them as borders On Congress street shall
be treated as real estate fronting on the
street epnder the terms of the statute,
md owned by the city. The petition was
considered by committee of the whole
md was reported upon adversely.
- AN ADVERSE REPORT.
The committee stated in its report that
1T believed that the paving should extend
from Drayton street to West Broad, and
thai it was not prepared to recommend
that the city assume the entire cost of
paving the intersections and changing
he sewer traps.
Some debate arose over the adoption of
The report. Alderman Bogart is opposed
10 paving the street at all, and he moved
TO amend the report by striking out all
conditions and making simply an adverse
'eporr.
IN FAVOR OF THE IMPROVEMENT.
Alderman Thomas is In favor of the I'M
provement. Congress street, he believes,
ought to be paved. The property owners
have asked thatit be done, and he thought
the Council ought to say whether or not
il will grant the petition. The cost OF the
!. Improvement, roughly estimated, will not
exceed one-half OF the cost OF the Brough-
ton street improvement, which was about
S36, 600. The condition OF the street, he
laid, demands improvement.
Alderman Bogart objected to the pro-
posed improvement because the city,
owning large amount of property fronts
ing on the street, VIII have to bear pro-
pertionately large part of the cost Of the
improvement.
Alderman Nell urged the necessity for
the work on the ground of the present
bad condition of the street.
Alderman Bogart renewed his motion
70 amend the report, and il was lost by a
fote of 6 to 8. The report was adopted
W small majority.
URGING THE IMPROVEMENT.
Two petitions, one for the paving OF
Congress street between Bull and Dray-
bon, and the other for paving west OF Bull
10 West Broad street, signed by the own
ers OF a majority Of the property fronting
On the street In regular form with no con-
ditions stated. were referred to the Com
mittee on Streets and Lanes, with instruc-
tions to report to an adjourned meeting of
Council.
A large delegation OF property owners
was present, as were also Mr.. Scharff and
Mr.. White, OF the asphalt pavement CON-
pany, and watched The proceedings
closely. A strong effort will be made to
SECURE the Improvement asked for. and
the almost unanimous preference of the
property owners is for the sheet asphalt
paving.
THE GWINNETT STREET PETITION.
A petition was also presented asking
that 0wInnett street be paved between
Drayton and Haoersham streets. 1t was
given the same direction as the petitions
Of the Congress street property owners,
and will come up at the adjourned meet
ing.
The committee Of the whole reported
adversely upon the petition TO cOncede
Reynolds square 3 site for the pro-
posed public building, and the report was
unanimously adopted.
Alderman Duncan offered a resolution
directing the Mayor to call the attention
Of Representative Norwood to the neces-
sity Tor an immediate survey of the
savannah river, under the act of
Congress authorizing such survey,
Tor the purpose OF securing a uniform
depth OF Is feet of water from the city to
the'bar, with the request that he urge the
immediate ordering OF the survey.
REWARD FOR FoGARTY's CAPTURE.
By resolution of Alderman Myers the
Mayor was authorized to offer a reward
Of $3.50 for the arrest and delivery to the
Sheriff OF Chatham county of Thomas
.ogarty for the shooting Of Edward j.
kieffer.
Alderman Schwarz moved the appoint
ment OF committee OF three Aldermen to
eonfer with 4 committee from the Board
OF County commissioners in reference to
the Introduction of a bill In the Legisla-
lure changing and repeating certain laws
governing the City Court OF Savannah.
The motion was carried, and the Mayor
appointed as the committee Aldermen
bchwarz, Bogart and Nell.
Several other matters Of minor import
ance were considered, and the Council
took recess subject to call OF the Mayor.
COUNTY AFFAIRS.